The Birth Story

Yesterday I took Harper to the doctor for her one week checkup, and I was required take one of those postpartum depression assessment tests. The questions all went something like this:

I feel happy...
None of the time
Rarely
Sometimes
About as often as before I had the baby

When I reached this question on the test I turned to Robert and said, "Why do they assume I can't feel way happier now that I have this baby? How is the happiness ceiling only as high as I felt before this amazing little miracle came into my life? Where is the "ecstatic, over the moon, eternally grateful" option?" Because honestly, that is how I feel since Harper came into our lives.

Allow me to back up. Obviously, I should include the birth story in the blog before I jump to the one-week checkup.

Harper's birth story isn't dramatic in the sense that my water broke (!) and I was rushed to the hospital (!). I had a scheduled c-section and Harper hung in there until her planned delivery date. This was a repeat c-section for me and a VBAC wasn't an option since Harper had been breech since 28 weeks (head up, feet down). The major upside of the scheduled c-section was that my mom, dad, and sister were able to fly to Salt Lake the day before and be there for delivery and Harper's first few days in the world. We knew waking up on September 30, 2015 that it would be the day we would meet the newest addition to our family.

Heading to the hospital. 

Last belly shot at 39 weeks.

Today's the big day! 

The day started out with a birth party in the pre-operating room. I wasn't supposed to eat or drink the day of surgery and everyone assumed I must be starving. I wasn't. I was nervous and excited and slightly terrified that something bad would happen to Harper during surgery. Luckily I had my people to keep my mind off of that. Birth party attendees included Robert, Aidan, Mom, Dad, Amy, Grandma JoAnn, Papa Bruce, Christine, and Lenore. My surgery was pushed back from 10:00 to 12:30 because they had a more emergent case they had to push ahead of me. Rather than being put off, I was just grateful that this time I wasn't the emergent case.

Birth party photos:

Nana Tripp, Papa Tripp, Aidan, Aidan, me, Papa Bruce, Grandma JoAnn, Robert

Me and my sister Amy who flew to Salt Lake for 48 hours just to meet Harper. Thank you, David, for watching their 4 boys back at home. 

Salt Lake besties, Christine and Lenore

Dad, Mom, me, and Amy 

Last photo of our little family of three

Amy thought it was funny that I wasn't listed on the chart.

One last hug before I was wheeled into surgery. Note the Boppy on Robert's head in the background for inexplicable reasons. 

After a raucous and anticipation filled couple of hours, I was wheeled into surgery without Robert where I had my epidural (super easy, and anyone who says differently is just trying to scare you or gain sympathy) and was prepped for surgery (kind of embarrassing considering you are totally naked in a room full of people).  When they said, "We're ready to begin" I panicked for a moment and said, "Robert isn't here!" My doctor assured me that they were walking him in momentarily.

When Robert joined us, the actual surgery commenced. Because the U is a teaching hospital, I got to hear my doctor, the chief of obstetrics, teach the resident the intricacies of how to perform a c-section. It was actually really cool to hear a play-by-play that was in no way for my benefit. At one point I heard the first-year anesthesiology resident (who had been told by my sister in no uncertain terms earlier in the day, "Don't touch my sister.") whisper in awe, "He's so fast." I was so happy that I had switched doctors earlier in my pregnancy to make sure that I had the best OB/GYN that Salt Lake has to offer.

Pictures from the OR:

Robert was the cameraman for these photos, and I think he did a terrific job considering he was also following the surgery itself closely. 

Look how photojournalist he gets here. Me and Robert holding hands, aka me clutching his hand for dear life.

Harper as her head is lifted out.

Cutting the cord

One of my favorite moments. This was my first glimpse of my daughter. Dr. Sharp lifted her over the surgical curtain and said, "Hi, Mom!" I will never look at this photo without crying. 

Cleaning and assessing Harper

The second I heard her cry, my own tears started to fall, but I still couldn't stop smiling.

Clean and ready to be held. 

First skin to skin contact. Harper grabbed Robert's finger and laid calmly on my chest.

There are no words.

Being wheeled back to the post-op room, which incidentally is the same as the pre-op room.

These are the faces I saw back in the pre/post op room:

The grandmas were a wee bit excited.

They were literally dancing.

The new aunt too.

Harper Margaret Cummings, 6 lbs. 10 ounces. My dad won the baby weight pool and $50.

The best face of all.

Grandchild #10 for my mom and dad, but you would think it was their first.

Grandchild #4 for Grandma JoAnn and Papa Bruce but their first infant. 

Mom couldn't stop smiling even more than usual.

Sisters admiring the new baby.

The look of love

One of my favorites as well.

A week has gone by since this amazing day, and I have much more to tell, but suffice it to say that I haven't been "as happy as I was before the baby." My life has been changed unequivocally for the better and I have never, ever been happier in my life.